Ahead of Zambia’s general elections, scheduled for 13 August, the country’s ruling party has placed digital transformation at the top of its election campaign agenda.
Among the five pillars of the manifesto of the United Party for National Development (UPND) are a pledge to drive growth through energy, infrastructure and digital innovation.
The UPND launched its election manifesto at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka on Thursday under the auspices of the 2026–2031 Revised Manifesto.
In the manifesto, titled ‘Connecting the Nation’, the UPND pledges to implement the National Digital Transformation Policy and connect more than 100 rural communities to the digital economy through the Smart Village Programme.
The UPND, run by president Hakainde Hichilema, assured Zambians it would add all government services to the Zamportal digital platform.
Under the UPND administration, which came into power in 2021, Zambia has achieved significant ICT milestones, including the expansion of the national fibre-optic backbone from 15 000 km to more than 42 000 km, the launch of 5G infrastructure and growth in fintech transactions to more than ZMK486 billion ($28.15 billion).
On the energy front, the UPND also aims to expand electricity generation from around 3 400 MW to more than 10 000 MW, with plans in place to diversify the energy mix across solar, hydro, wind and thermal projects.
The manifesto also prioritised strengthening regional road and rail corridors linking Zambia to international ports, including the Lobito and Nacala corridors connecting neighbouring Angola and Mozambique respectively.
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